nirjhar: Arunachal Pradesh: Memorable Places to Travel

Friday, November 5, 2010

Arunachal Pradesh: Memorable Places to Travel

Welcome; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

The Land of Dawn Lit Mountains

Do you want to experience the adventurous mountain? Flora and fauna? Thick forest? Sky reaching pine trees? Cold wind? Ice wrapping mountain? Playful ice? Ice scale beside roads? Deep blue lakes? Murmuring rivers? Flowing water falls? Colourful clouds just beneath you? Smiling faces fighting each and every moment of life? Brave solders? Culture, religion and tradition stepping towards future? Just visit Arunachal Pradesh!
I have been there for an week, during last week of October, 2010.

Land of Dawn Lit Mountains; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Orchid of Arunachal Pradesh; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti, from Tipi

Up Above the World so High! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti ,from Shela Pass

Nature at its best! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Cloud, Cloud...every where! Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Here I want to share some of my memories, some facts and figure about this wonderful landscape, named Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh (Hindi: अरुणाचल प्रदेश) is a federated state of India, located in the far northeast. Itanagar is the capital of the state.
South & southeast part of Arunachal Pradesh has Indian counter part Assam and Nagaland. It shares border with neighbouring countries Burma and Bhutan at the east and northwest. Northern part of the Arunachal Pradesh has Tibet, which is occupied by China. Tibet has a Government-in-exile, which is headed by Buddhist monk, His Holiness Dalai Lama. The present geography of Tibet is governed by China.
In Sanskrit, Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn lit mountains". Most of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are of Tibeto-Burman origin. A large number of migrants have reached Arunachal Pradesh from many other parts of India.

Buddhist Tourism

Tashi Delek!

Lake at Shela Pass; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Some sources said, around 13 percent of the population of Arunachal Pradesh follows Buddhism. The Buddhist population of the state resides in the region Tawang, West Kameng, remote regions in close vicinity of Tibet and near the Burma border. Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in the first three region while The revada Buddhism guides the life of people living near the Burmese border.

Flags for peace and harmony; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Buddhism is a reality in the life of Arunachal. Everywhere this reality can be seen. Even at the high altitude of Sela Pass (above 13700 feet), Dalai Lama's speech is written. Everywhere the colourful Buddhist flags written with Tibetan style script can be seen. Tibet-India border of Bumla is also not an exception.

Major Buddhist Centre in Arunachal Pradesh:

Buddhist School at Tawang; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Tawang:
Tawang is the head quarter of Tawang District. This is the most acknowledged centre for Tibetan Buddhism practices.
The 400-year-old Tawang Monastery provides some historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal peoples. Historically, Tawang had a close relationship with Tibetan people and Tibetan culture, for example the sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.
Dalai Lama’s visit to tawang caught international attention during November 2009. China objected to this visit of Dalai Lama, though he had previously visited Tawang several times since he forced to leave Tibet in 1959, by Chinese aggression. India rejected Chinese objection and said that the Dalai Lama was an honoured guest in India and could visit any place in India. Thousands of people including those from neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan, attended his religious discourse.
He was received and welcomed by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The residents of Tawang were elated to have the Dalai Lama among them. The whole town enjoyed the occasion as festival.
Tawang monastery is one of the major centre of Buddhism. Students from childhood practice Buddhism in this historic monastry.

Tawang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

From Tawang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Bomdila:

Bomdila is the head quarter of West Kameng District and one of the major centres of Tibetan Buddhism.

Lets Go Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

This town has many Buddhist gompas (temples). These gompas also has schools, where students learn basics and higher level of Buddhism. The students in these schools practice all the basics of living hood. Students perform the traditional Tibetan art and culture, under guidance of experienced lama.

Little Lamas at Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Determination for Peace; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Cultural Group of Bomdila; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Tibetan Dance; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Students of Bomdila Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Long way to go; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Working Lamas at Bomdila Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Dirang Monastery; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Relax; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Dirang:

Dirang is a town of West Kameng District. This town has also Buddhist gompas (temples). These gompas also create awareness about the Buddhist practices. Ahimsa is practiced in these gompas with great care and honesty.

Tibetan Culture & Buddhism:

Tibetan Centre at Arunachal Pradesh; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

The people in Arunachal is religeous. They believe in the concept of Lord Buddha. Lots of Tibetan people has migrated to this wonderful land after the forceful aggression of China in the Tibetan kingdom. There are Tibetan rehab office in Arunachal, too. Tibetan culture has tremendous impact on Buddhism of Arunachal Pradesh.

Eco-Tourism:

Arunachal Pradesh is full of life, full of flora and fauna, full of orchids, and full of difefrent anumals which balance the eco system as a whole.

Bhalukpong:
Bhalukpong is located in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Bhalukpong is the border between two states of India, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Bhalukpong is known for picnics, rafting and angling on the banks of river Kameng and trekking and hiking. It is told that, Bhalukpong is worth a visit at the time of the Nyethidow festival in March.Bhalukpong in Arunachal Pradesh is a mesmerizing place for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurers. Bhalukpong is a little town on the Kameng River and lies along the dense forests that form the border of the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tipi Orchidarium:

Orchid of Tipi; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Arunachal has the largest range of orchids in India. There is an Orchidarium at Tipi which is near to the banks of the Bharali River in the West Kameng District. Tipi is close to Bhalukpong. It shelters 500 or more varieties of orchids. These orchids grow abundantly in various parts of Arunachal Pradesh. In the Orchid research centre, scientists create new hybrid varieties of orchids using the latest techniques of biotechnology.

Leisure Place:
Arunachal Pradesh is a perfect place for leisure. The hills, murmuring rivers, chanting birds create an ambience for relax.

At the bank of River Kameng; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti, from Tenga

Tenga:
Tenga is a perfect place for holiday. River Kameng and the surrounding hills makes this place a perfect destination for holiday. Tenga is a multilingual place. Apart from Arunachal’s natives, also lot of people from other part of India, especially Bengali people reside here. Local people celebrate typical Bengali festivals, like Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja. Also, Indian solders provide full supports to all the people and tourist.

War memorials:

Jaswant Garh: A place for brave heart, peace and harmony; Photograph by Nirjhar Chakravorti

Indian peace keeping force are always present in the border areas. They help the common people with all resources. India has a long history of Ahimsa (peace), but to ensure its dignity and integrity Indians are always brave. Indian military are the face of brave India.
In the memory of died soldiers of 1962 war with neighbour country, there are many war memorials at different places, like War Memorial at Tawang, Jaswant Garh, etc. Apart from war memorials, Ice packed Bumla border, near to Tawang, is a place to visit, where Modern India's strength can be seen.

As a whole Arunachal Pradesh is modern India's new tourist venture. If you want to explore Incredible India, then don't miss Arunachal Pradesh; It is truely a land of dawn lit mountains.

For Tour & Travel Plan of Arunachal Pradesh, visit http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/arunachal-pradesh-meghalaya-trip-our.html
To see the wonderful pictures of Arunachal Cloud, visit: http://nirjharchakravorti.blogspot.com/2010/11/kingdom-of-cloud.html
(The write up is dedicated to Late Mr. Sanjit Kumar Chaudhury, who was planner for our trip to Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Mr. Sanjit Chaudhury was a man with great vission and mission. He was not only a great engineer and dedicated manager, but was an honest and varsatile man with varied activities. He was a true silent social worker, who equally valued every human being irrespective of position, status, economic condition, race and social standard. He had huge contribution to Indian steel industries for establishing pollution control and gas cleaning system. I am fortunate to work with a person like him. He was not only my senior at office, but was a brother, guide and philosopher for me. His unfortunate and sudden death due to brain cancer is a huge loss for many people like me and for Indian engineering sector.)